Matthew 9:16 No man puts a piece of new cloth to an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment… The boldness with which Christ asserted the novelty of Christianity. His was not the apologetic, half-hearted tone, so common amongst those who have some thing fresh to tell the world. I. IN WHAT RESPECT WAS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS NEW? 1. In its idea of God. Jesus was the first to teach effectively the Fatherhood of God. The legal idea of God fell into desuetude. The old Jewish view of God was as an exactor; the new God of Jesus was a giver. 2. Along with the new idea of God came naturally a new conception of the kingdom of God; rather than law, it was viewed as love. 3. These thoughts were accompanied by a new way of life, the typical feature of which was neglect of fasting, which meant a conscience freed from legal scrupulosity. II. THE COURAGE OF JESUS WAS NOT LESS CONSPICUOUS THAN HIS ORIGINALITY IN THOUGHT AND CONDUCT. 1. As He believed, so He spoke publicly, habitually. 2. He was equally unreserved in His action. 3. He was fearless in defence of His conduct when assailed. 4. The gloomy foreboding was not a mistaken one. The Bridegroom was taken from the sorrowing society. The duty arising out of these facts. To glorify Christ as the Maker of the new world. How is this to be done? I. By recognizing to the full extent the service rendered, by forming to ourselves a broad, comprehensive idea of the vast change introduced into the world by the action of our Saviour. 2. By becoming ourselves children of the new era, appreciating and using to the fall the liberty of a Christian man. (A. B. Bruce, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. |
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